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Civil War Soldiers - McCall
| McCall, George A., brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., March 16, 1802. He was
graduated at the United States military academy in 1822, served as
aide-de-camp to Gen. E. P. Gaines in the Seminole war of 1831-36,
participated in the second war with the Seminoles, 1841-2, and was
promoted captain in 1836 and major in 1847. He took part in the
military occupation of Texas and the war with Mexico, being present at
the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, and winning the
brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel for his gallantry. On his
return from the Mexican war he was given a sword by the citizens of
Philadelphia, and in 1850 he was appointed inspector-general of the
army, with the rank of colonel, which position he resigned in 1853 to
engage in farming in Chester county, Pa. On May 15, 1861, he was
commissioned major- general of Pennsylvania volunteers, and his
division formed the extreme right of the defenses of Washington. He
was commissioned brigadier- general of U. S. volunteers, May 17, 1861,
and he commanded the reserves, which formed a division of three
brigades, until June, 1862. He planned the successful movement against
Dranesville, Dec. 20, 1861, and commanded all the national forces at
the battle of Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862, where he repelled a
vastly superior force. He led his brigade in the battle of Gaines'
mill, June 27, 1862, and at the battle of New Market cross-roads, June
30, 1862, where he was taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby prison
until Aug. 18, was then on sick leave until March 31, 1863, when he
resigned and retired to his farm in Pennsylvania. The citizens of
Chester county presented him with a sword in Aug., 1862, and in 1864
he was the Democratic candidate for Congress. He died at Belair, Pa.,
Feb. 26, 1868.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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